Travel Tips

Can Social Media Be Used As A Travel Safety Tool?

During the past decade, the rise of social media platforms has rapidly grown into an industry with considerable capabilities to develop new services within their individual sites. In terms of protecting travellers, access to immediately communicate with others is undoubtedly beneficial.

The Dangers of Social Media

Apps like Facebook Messenger, which is widely used as a point of contact for many via texting, and Twitter’s responsive feeds can quickly alert friends and family or the general public. However, networks of information that are so openly accessible can potentially be dangerous, inviting criminals and those with malicious intentions to obverse your vulnerabilities whilst travelling.

Stories of social media updates about holidays leading to burglaries of empty homes are not uncommon, however, it is equally important to consider the risks of oversharing information for the traveller. For those travelling for professional purposes, a Facebook update about your destination, a check-in at a hotel or a photo that contains your luggage or your flight tickets can compromise not just your own safety, but your colleague’s and your company’s as well.

The Value of Social Media

In response to users posting updates and alerts online regarding natural or man-made disasters, Facebook introduced a ‘Safety Check’ feature that has since been employed frequently. The feature allows users to check-in as safe to notify their online friends, and although this system is far from a comprehensive disaster relief mechanism, it has proved popular.

Social media has also created a platform for discussion and distribution of real-time updates, freely accessible. During the 2017 terrorist attacks in Paris, locals in the city centre were posting on Twitter and Facebook offers of refuge for those feeling at risk in the streets.

Equally, during Hurricane Michael last year, federal authorities were aided in locating in survivors and constructing a wider perspective of the danger across large regions of the East Coast thanks to locals posting on social media. As the use of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram becomes increasingly embedded into normal life, it brings to question whether higher expectations should be placed on social media to guarantee the platform will have space for the stranded.

Our reliance on portable devices to provide services is a well-established phenomenon of the current generation, and technology across all industries is taking note, in particular how we socialise. Importantly, social media is defining many habits of how people interact with their devices.

Consumer demand now calls for immediately accessible information whilst being on-the-go; eTravelSafety understands this and responds, keeping its finger on the pulse. We have been bringing innovation to Travel Safety technology, providing solutions to problems that develop every day in a format that is familiar and comfortable to the user.

Similar to Facebook’s ‘Safety Check’ feature, there is a ‘check-in’ system in our products, however, instead it provides secure information for employers and is far more ergonomic than other products that contain geo-tracking.

Introducing: Travel Safe 360

Taking this technology one step further, our new product of 2019, Travel Safe 360, will offer customers a selection tool that can select and notify groups by location and job role, or in an emergency use a force check-in that will locate your people automatically.

Travel Safe 360 will be a coupling of two staple products, eTS Travel Safe and eTS Academy, into an app that is capable of not only providing immediate Travel Safety information, but also training content to help prepare and prevent the risks that travellers encounter. Furthermore, eTravelSafety has proven that it doesn’t miss a beat after introducing Chatbot Charlie, the industry’s first Travel Safety Chatbot.

For news about the launch of Travel Safe 360, and to be first in line for all planned updates post-launch, be sure to sign up right here today.